Information processing device, information processing method, and program

ABSTRACT

Provided is an information processing device including a pressure sensor configured to be capable of detecting a pressure position which is a position of a pressure portion subjected to a pressure manipulation by a user and a pressure force which is a pressure at a time of the pressure manipulation, and to have a cylindrical shape, and a position specifying unit configured to specify a position in a three-dimensional space according to the pressure position and the pressure force.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an information processing device, aninformation processing method, and a program.

BACKGROUND ART

Designation of a position in a three-dimensional space has beenperformed in various fields. For example, in the field of colorcollection, designation of a color is performed by designating aposition in color spaces defined with RGB, HSV, and the like. A methodof designating a color is disclosed in, for example, Patent Literature1.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   Patent Literature 1: JP 2007-096612A

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Technical Problem

However, designation of a position in a three-dimensional space has beenperformed by combining 2-dimensional or 1-dimensional information. Thatis, a technology for directly designating a position in athree-dimensional space has not yet been suggested. For this reason, itis desirable to provide a technology with which a user can directlydesignate a position in a three-dimensional space.

Solution to Problem

According to the present disclosure, there is provided an informationprocessing device including a pressure sensor configured to be capableof detecting a pressure position which is a position of a pressureportion subjected to a pressure manipulation by a user and a pressureforce which is a pressure at a time of the pressure manipulation, and tohave a cylindrical shape, and a position specifying unit configured tospecify a position in a three-dimensional space according to thepressure position and the pressure force.

According to the present disclosure, there is provided an informationprocessing method including specifying a position in a three-dimensionalspace according to a pressure position and a pressure force based oninformation given from a pressure sensor, the pressure sensor beingcapable of detecting the pressure position which is a position of apressure portion subjected to a pressure manipulation by a user and thepressure force which is a pressure at a time of the pressuremanipulation, the pressure sensor having a cylindrical shape.

According to the present disclosure, there is provided a program forcausing a computer to realize a position specifying function ofspecifying a position in a three-dimensional space according to apressure position and a pressure force based on information given from apressure sensor, the pressure sensor being capable of detecting thepressure position which is a position of a pressure portion subjected toa pressure manipulation by a user and the pressure force which is apressure at a time of the pressure manipulation, the pressure sensorhaving a cylindrical shape.

According to the present disclosure, the information processing devicespecifies a position in a three-dimensional space according to apressure position and a pressure force. Accordingly, a user can find aportion corresponding to a desired position in the three-dimensionalspace, i.e., a pressure portion, by viewing the pressure sensor with acylindrical shape in a circumferential direction. Then, the user candesignate the desired position in the three-dimensional space bypressing the pressure portion.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

According to the present disclosure described above, a user can directlyand intuitively designate a position in a three-dimensional space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of aninformation processing device according to a first embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the outer appearance of theinformation processing device.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an example of theconfiguration of a display unit 40.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a shape calculationexample of a light emission surface of a 2-dimensional light-emittingelement array 1101.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram (part 1) illustrating a trajectoryexample of light emission points observed from a viewpoint Pa.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram (part 2) illustrating a trajectoryexample of light emission points observed from a viewpoint Pa.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram (part 3) illustrating a trajectoryexample of light emission points observed from a viewpoint Pa.

FIG. 8 is a planar sectional view illustrating a display unit and apressure sensor.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view for describing a method of specifying apressure position of the pressure sensor.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the configuration of a colorspace.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a correspondent relation orthe like between a line of sight of a user and a color space displayedon a display unit.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating a color space displayed onthe display unit.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a correspondent relation orthe like between a line of sight of a user and a color space displayedon a display unit.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a correspondent relation orthe like between a line of sight of a user and a color space displayedon a display unit.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view illustrating a correspondent relation orthe like between a line of sight of a user and a color space displayedon a display unit.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating an order of processes performed bythe information processing device.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of aninformation processing device according to a second embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view illustrating the outer appearance of theinformation processing device.

FIG. 19 is a planar sectional view illustrating a display unit and apressure sensor.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the appended drawings. Note that,in this specification and the drawings, elements that have substantiallythe same function and structure are denoted with the same referencesigns, and repeated explanation is omitted.

The description will be made in the following order.

1. First embodiment (example in which 360-degree display is used)

1-1. Configuration of information processing device

1-2. Order of processes performed by information processing device

2. Second Embodiment

2-1. Configuration of information processing device (example in whichflexible display is used)

<1-1. Configuration of Information Processing Device>

In an embodiment, a technology for directly designating a position in acolor space focusing on the color space as a three-dimensional spacewill be disclosed. Designation of a color is performed by designating aposition in a three-dimensional space called a color space. In the fieldof color collection or the like, methods of using color sample books,Munsell charts, or the like expressed 1-dimensionally or 2-dimensionallyhave been disclosed as methods of performing designation of a color. Insuch methods, however, users may not directly designate positions incolor spaces since the users designate a color by combining a pluralityof color sample books or Munsell charts. Further, when a resolution of acolor is intended to be increased with such methods, considerably manysheets of color samples or Munsell charts are necessary, and thus largeareas are necessary or it is difficult to search for a desired color.Accordingly, in the embodiment, a technology capable of directlydesignating a position in a color space and easily adjusting aresolution will be disclosed.

An information processing device 1 includes a pressure sensor 10, aposition specifying unit 20, a control unit 30, and a display unit 40,as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3. The information processing device 1also includes a hardware configuration of a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, acommunication device, and the like in addition to the pressure sensorand the display unit 40, and thus the position specifying unit 20 andthe control unit 30 are realized by the hardware configuration. That is,a program causing the information processing device 1 to realize theposition specifying unit 20 and the control unit 30 is recorded in theROM. Thus, when the CPU reads and executes the program, the positionspecifying unit 20 and the control unit 30 are realized.

[Configuration Example of Display Unit 40]

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an example of theconfiguration of the display unit 40. The display unit 40 is a so-called360-degree display. The details of a 360-degree display have beendisclosed in, for example, JP 2011-107665A. Accordingly, an overview ofthe configuration and an operation principle of the display unit 40 willbe described. The display unit 40 illustrated in FIG. 3 configures anexample of a light-beam reproduction type stereoscopic image displaydevice and includes a 2-dimensional light-emitting element array 1101, arotational unit 1104 with a slit, and an installation stand 1105 with adriving mechanism. The display unit 40 reproduces a stereoscopic imageof the entire periphery of a subject based on 2-dimensional videoinformation or the like (hereinafter, simply referred to as video dataDin) for stereoscopic image display imaged around the entire peripheryof the subject or generated by a computer.

The rotational unit 1104 includes an exterior body 1041 with a slit anda turntable 1042 with an intake port. The exterior body 1041 is mountedon the turntable 1042. The turntable 1042 has a disk-like shape and arotational shaft 1103 is formed at the central position of the turntable1042. The rotational shaft 1103 serves as a rotational center of theturntable 1042 and serves as a rotational center of the exterior body1041, and is also referred to as the rotational shaft 1103 of therotational unit 1104 below. An intake port 1106 is formed at apredetermined position of the turntable 1042 and air is configured to betaken into the exterior body 1041.

At least one 2-dimensional light-emitting element array 1101 with apredetermined shape is provided inside the exterior body 1041 on theturntable 1042. The 2-dimensional light-emitting element array 1101 is,for example, an array in which m rows×n columns of light-emittingelements are arranged in a matrix form. A self-luminous element such asan organic EL, a light-emitting diode, or a laser diode is used as thelight-emitting element. The 2-dimensional light-emitting element array1101 is configured such that the plurality of light-emitting elementsemit light in response to rotation of the rotational unit 1104 and lightemission is controlled based on the video data Din for a stereoscopicimage. The light emission control is performed by the control unit 30 tobe described below.

Of course, the light-emitting element is not limited to theself-luminous element, but may be a light-emitting device in which alight source and a modulation element are combined. Any light-emittingelement or light-emitting device may be used as long as thelight-emitting device is a light-emitting device that can follow amodulation speed of the rotational unit 1104 at the time of slitrotation scanning with respect to a viewpoint Pa (see FIG. 4). In the2-dimensional light-emitting element array 1101, a driving circuit(driver) driving the light-emitting elements is mounted in addition tothe light-emitting elements.

For example, the 2-dimensional light-emitting element array 1101 has alamination structure in which a plurality of 1-dimensionallight-emitting element substrates in which the plurality oflight-emitting elements are disposed (mounted) in a line form arelaminated along the rotational shaft 1103 on a small-cut surface formedby notching a printed wiring substrate in a bent shape (for example, anarc-like shape). In this configuration, the 2-dimensional light-emittingelement array 1101 having a light emission surface with a curved surfaceshape (for example, an arc-like shape) can be easily configured.

The exterior body 1041 mounted to cover the 2-dimensional light-emittingelement array 1101 on the turntable 1042 has a cylindrical shape with apredetermined diameter ϕ and a predetermined height Ha. The diameter ϕof the exterior body 1041 is in the range of about 100 mm to about 200mm and the height Ha is in the range of about 400 mm to about 500 mm. Aslit 1102 is formed at a predetermined position on the peripheralsurface of the exterior body 1041. The slit 1102 is punched in adirection parallel to the rotational shaft 1103 on the peripheralsurface of the exterior body 1041 and is fixed on the front side of thelight emission surface of the 2-dimensional light-emitting element array1101 to restrict an emission range of light within a predeterminedrange.

Of course, the slit 1102 is not limited to the holed portion, but may bea window portion formed from a transparent member through which lightpasses. For example, a light-emitting unit Ui (where i=1, 2, 3, etc.) isformed in a pair unit by the slit 1102 on the peripheral surface of theexterior body 1041 and the 2-dimensional light-emitting element array1101 on the inside.

The above-described 2-dimensional light-emitting element array 1101 hasa portion with a curved surface shape and a concave surface side of thecurved surface shape serves as the light emission surface. The lightemission surface with the curved surface shape is disposed between therotational shaft 1103 of the rotational unit 1104 and the slit 1102 sothat the light emission surface faces the slit 1102. In thisconfiguration, it is easier for light emitted from the light emissionsurface with the curved surface shape to be guided (condensed) to theslit 1102 than a light emission surface with a flat shape. As theexterior body 1041, a body with a cylindrical shape is used byperforming press working or roll machining on an iron plate or analuminum plate. The inside and the outside of the exterior body 1041 arepreferably coated with black so that light is absorbed. A holed portionabove the slit 1102 of the exterior body 1041 is a hole portion 1108 fora sensor.

The top plate of the exterior body 1041 is formed with a fan structureso that cooling air taken from the intake port 1106 of the turntable1042 is exhausted to the outside. For example, a slight fan portion 1107(exhaust port) such as a blade which is an example of a cooling blademember is formed in the top plate (upper portion) of the exterior body1041, a flow of air is produced using a rotation operation, and heatgenerated from the 2-dimensional light-emitting element array 1101 orits driving circuit is forcibly exhausted. The fan portion 1107 may alsobe used as the top plate by notching the upper portion of the exteriorbody 1041. When the fan portion is also used as the top plate, theexterior body 1041 becomes strong.

The fan portion 1107 is not limited to the upper portion of therotational shaft 1103 of the rotational unit 1104, but may be mountednear the rotational shaft 1103 in the lower portion of the exterior body1041. When the rotational unit 1104 is rotated, the flow of air orientedfrom the upper side to the lower side of the rotational unit 1104 or theflow of air oriented from the lower side to the upper side of therotational unit 1104 can be produced depending on the direction of theblade of the blade member. In either case, a suction port or an exhaustport for air may be formed on the upper side or the lower side of therotational unit 1104.

By mounting the blade member around the rotational shaft 1103, the flowof air can be produced using a rotational operation of the rotationalunit 1104. Accordingly, heat generated from the 2-dimensionallight-emitting element array 1101 can be exhausted to the outsidewithout newly adding a fan motor or the like. Since the fan motor isaccordingly unnecessary, cost of the display unit 40 can be reduced.

The installation stand 1105 is a portion that rotatably supports theturntable 1042. A bearing portion (not illustrated) is installed in theupper portion of the installation stand 1105. The bearing portionrotatably engages with the rotational shaft 1103 and supports therotational unit 1104. A motor 1052 is installed inside the installationstand 1105 to rotate the turntable 1042 at a predetermined rotation(modulation) speed. For example, a direct connecting type AC motor orthe like engages with the lower end of the rotational shaft 1103. Themotor 1052 directly transmits a rotational force to the rotational shaft1103 to rotate the rotational shaft 1103, so that the rotational unit1104 is rotated at the predetermined modulation speed.

For example, a method of transmitting power or the video data Din to therotational unit 1104 via a slip ring 1051 is adopted when the power orthe video data Din is transmitted to the rotational unit 1104. Accordingto this method, the slip ring 1051 transmitting the power and the videodata Din to the rotational shaft 1103 is installed. The slip ring 1051is divided into a fixed-side component and a rotation-side component.The rotation-side component is mounted on the rotational shaft 1103. Aharness 1053 (wiring cable) is connected to the fixed-side component.

The 2-dimensional light-emitting element array 1101 is connected to therotation-side component via another harness 1054. Between the fixed-sidecomponent and the rotation-side component, a slider (not illustrated) isconfigured to be electrically connected to a circular body. The sliderconfigures a fixed-side component or a rotation-side component and thecircular body configures a fixed-side component or a rotation-sidecomponent. In this structure, the power or the video data Din suppliedfrom the outside can be transmitted to the 2-dimensional light-emittingelement array 1101 via the slip ring 1051 inside the installation stand1105.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a shape calculationexample of the light emission surface of the 2-dimensionallight-emitting element array 1101. In the example, a shape of the lightemission surface of the 2-dimensional light-emitting element array 1101on an xa-ya coordinate plane (a plane perpendicular to the rotationalshaft 1103) illustrated in FIG. 4 is a curve drawn by a point (xa(θ),ya(θ)) expressed by the following equation. When the 2-dimensionallight-emitting element array 1101 is formed, L1 is assumed to be thedistance of a line segment from the rotational shaft 1103 of therotational unit 1104 to any viewpoint Pa. L2 is assumed to be theshortest distance between the rotational shaft 1103 and the2-dimensional light-emitting element array 1101. In the entireperipheral stereoscopic image display device 10, image display isrealized such that a trajectory of light emission points by the2-dimensional light-emitting element array 1101, i.e., an image displaysurface to be observed, becomes, for example, a plane when the device isobserved from any viewpoint Pa. In this case, L2 is the same as adistance between the rotational shaft 1103 and the plane formed by thetrajectory of the light emission points by the plurality oflight-emitting elements.

Further, r is assumed to be a distance of a line segment from therotational shaft 1103 of the rotational unit 1104 to the slit 1102 and θis assumed to be an angle formed between the line segment of thedistance L1 and the line segment of the distance r and an angleindicating the position of the slit 1102 with respect to the linesegment of the distance L1. Further, xa(θ) is assumed to be an xa-axiscoordinate value at which the curved shape of the light emission surfaceof the 2-dimensional light-emitting element array 1101 is formed andya(θ) is assumed to be a ya-axis coordinate value at which the curvedshape of the light emission surface of the 2-dimensional light-emittingelement array 1101 is formed. Here, the xa-axis coordinate value xa(θ)satisfies equation (10), i.e.,[Math 1]xa(θ)=r(L2−L1)sin θ cos θ/(L1−r cos θ)+L2 sin θ  (10).Further, the ya-axis coordinate value ya(θ) satisfies equation (11),i.e.,ya(θ)=r(L2−L1)sin 2θ/(L1−r cos θ)−L2 cos θ  (11).The shape of the light emission surface of the 2-dimensionallight-emitting element array 1101 is decided by the xa-axis coordinatevalue xa(θ) and the ya-axis coordinate value ya(θ). Here, in thedrawing, (xa1, ya1) is the coordinates of the slit 1102.

Further, (xa2, −L2) is the coordinates of a light emission pointactually observed from the viewpoint Pa via the slit 1102.

Accordingly, a trajectory of a light emission point observed from theviewpoint Pa via the slit 1102 can decide the shape of the lightemission surface of the 2-dimensional light-emitting element array 1101viewed as a plane. When the shape of the light emission surface isdecided, the printed wiring substrate may be notched and formed in acurved shape.

[Operation Principle of Display Unit 40]

Next, an operation principle of the display unit 40, i.e., a trajectoryexample of the light emission point observed from the viewpoint Pa, willbe described. In the display unit 40, for example, “m=12” light-emittingelements are disposed at mutually different positions, as describedabove, in the plane perpendicular to the rotational shaft 1103 in the2-dimensional light-emitting element array 1101. The m light-emittingelements emit light to the outside for mutually different viewpointpositions via the slit 1102 in response to the rotation of therotational unit 1104. Here, when the rotational unit 1104 is rotated,the direction of the rotational axis 103 is assumed to be observed fromany one viewpoint position in the periphery of the rotational unit 1104.At this time, the control unit 30 to be described below controls lightemission of the plurality of light-emitting elements such that, forexample, a planar image is formed according to any viewpoint positioninside the rotational unit 1104 by the trajectory of the light emissionpoints by the plurality of light-emitting elements. For example, theplanar image in which there is a slight disparity according to theviewpoint position is observed at each viewpoint position. Accordingly,when an observer observes the planar image from any two viewpointpositions corresponding to the position of both eyes, the observerobserves, for example, the planar image in which there is a mutualdisparity according to each viewpoint position. Accordingly, theobserver can recognize a stereoscopic image at any position in theperiphery of the rotational unit.

FIGS. 5 to 7 are explanatory diagrams illustrating a trajectory exampleof a light emission point observed from the viewpoint Pa. As shown inFIGS. 5A to 5D, when the rotational unit 1104 with the light-emittingunit U1 is rotated at a constant speed and rotational scanning isperformed for the viewpoint Pa, the light-emitting element observed fromthe viewpoint Pa is moved from a light-emitting element 1201 tolight-emitting elements 1202, 1203, . . . , and 1212 in this order atintervals of a time T.

A structure in which a trajectory of the light emission points (smallblack circles in the drawing) is viewed as, for example, a plane isrealized by adjusting the shape of the light emission surface of the2-dimensional light-emitting element array 1101 and the position of theslit 1102. For example, when the 2-dimensional light-emitting elementarray 1101 is observed at the viewpoint Pa via the slit 1102 at a time“t=0” illustrated in FIG. 5A, light leaking from the light-emittingelement 1201 is observed.

When the 2-dimensional light-emitting element array 1101 is observed atthe viewpoint Pa via the slit 1102 at a time “t=T” illustrated in FIG.5B, light leaking from the light-emitting element 1202 is observed. Afirst small white circle from the right side of the drawing indicatesthe light emission point of the light-emitting element 1201. When the2-dimensional light-emitting element array 1101 is observed at theviewpoint Pa via the slit 1102 at a time “t=2T” illustrated in FIG. 5C,light leaking from the light-emitting element 1203 is observed. A secondsmall white circle in FIG. 5C indicates the light emission point of thelight-emitting element 1202.

When the 2-dimensional light-emitting element array 1101 is observed atthe viewpoint Pa via the slit 1102 at a time “t=3T” illustrated in FIG.5D, light leaking from the light-emitting element 1204 is observed. Athird small white circle in FIG. 5D indicates the light emission pointof the light-emitting element 1203.

When the 2-dimensional light-emitting element array 1101 is observed atthe viewpoint Pa via the slit 1102 at a time “t=4T” illustrated in FIG.6A, light leaking from the light-emitting element 1205 is observed. Afourth small white circle in FIG. 6A indicates the light emission pointof the light-emitting element 1204. When the 2-dimensionallight-emitting element array 1101 is observed at the viewpoint Pa viathe slit 1102 at a time “t=ST” illustrated in FIG. 6B, light leakingfrom the light-emitting element 1206 is observed. A fifth small whitecircle in FIG. 6B indicates the light emission point of thelight-emitting element 1205.

When the 2-dimensional light-emitting element array 1101 is observed atthe viewpoint Pa via the slit 1102 at a time “t=6T” illustrated in FIG.6C, light leaking from the light-emitting element 1207 is observed. Asixth small white circle in FIG. 6C indicates the light emission pointof the light-emitting element 1206. When the 2-dimensionallight-emitting element array 1101 is observed at the viewpoint Pa viathe slit 1102 at a time “t=7T” illustrated in FIG. 6D, light leakingfrom the light-emitting element 1208 is observed. A seventh small whitecircle in FIG. 6D indicates the light emission point of thelight-emitting element 1207.

When the 2-dimensional light-emitting element array 1101 is observed atthe viewpoint Pa via the slit 1102 at a time “t=8T” illustrated in FIG.7A, light leaking from the light-emitting element 1209 is observed. Aneighth small white circle in FIG. 7A indicates the light emission pointof the light-emitting element 1208. When the 2-dimensionallight-emitting element array 1101 is observed at the viewpoint Pa viathe slit 1102 at a time “t=9T” illustrated in FIG. 7B, light leakingfrom the light-emitting element 1210 is observed. A ninth small whitecircle in FIG. 7B indicates the light emission point of thelight-emitting element 1209.

When the 2-dimensional light-emitting element array 1101 is observed atthe viewpoint Pa via the slit 1102 at a time “t=10T” illustrated in FIG.7C, light leaking from the light-emitting element 1211 is observed. Atenth small white circle in FIG. 7C indicates the light emission pointof the light-emitting element 1210. When the 2-dimensionallight-emitting element array 1101 is observed at the viewpoint Pa viathe slit 1102 at a time “t=11T” illustrated in FIG. 7D, light leakingfrom the light-emitting element 1212 is observed. An eleventh smallwhite circle in FIG. 7D indicates the light emission point of thelight-emitting element 1211. A twelfth small white circle in FIG. 7Dindicates the light emission point of the light-emitting element 1212.Accordingly, the user can view the planar images via the slit 1102.Further, the user can view a different planar image at each viewpoint.Accordingly, the user can view a stereoscopic image. The planar imageis, for example, a plane (that is, a plane 103 to be described below) ina color space.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 8, the pressure sensor 10 has acylindrical shape and the display unit 40 is disposed in its hollowportion. The display unit 40 is a so-called 360-degree display anddisplays a different image according to a display direction. Asillustrated in FIG. 9, a reference surface 10 b including a central axis10 a is set in the pressure sensor 10. The height of the pressure sensor10 is denoted by y_(max). When a user presses a point P1, the pressuresensor 10 detects an angle θ₁ from the reference surface 10 b to thepoint P1 and a distance y from an upper end surface 10 c to the point P1as the position of the point P1, i.e., a pressure position. The angle θ₁is an angle formed between a vertical line formed from the point P1 tothe central axis 10 a and the reference surface. Further, the clockwiserotation direction is the positive direction of the angle θ₁ withinwhich the angle θ₁ has values of 0 to 360.

The pressure sensor 10 detects a pressure force P at the time of apressure manipulation. The pressure sensor 10 generates pressuremanipulation information regarding the pressure position (θ₁, y) and thepressure force P and outputs the pressure manipulation information tothe position specifying unit 20. The pressure manipulation informationincludes three-dimensional values of the angle θ₁, the distance y, andthe pressure force P. Accordingly, the position specifying unit 20 canspecify a point P2 in the color space based on the pressure manipulationinformation (see FIG. 11).

Based on the pressure manipulation information, the position specifyingunit 20 specifies the point P2 in the color space according to thepressure position (θ₁, y) and the pressure force P. Here, a color space100 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.10. The color space 100 is a space defined by H (hue), S (saturation),and V (value) and has a columnar shape. A reference surface 102 is setin the color space 100. The reference surface 102 is a surface includinga central axis 101 and a central point C1 and indicates red (H=0). Thecentral axis 101 is disposed to be parallel to the central axis 10 a ofthe pressure sensor 10. The reference surface 10 b of the pressuresensor 10 and the reference surface 102 in the color space are set tooverlap.

The hue is expressed by an angle from the reference surface 101 in whichthe clockwise rotation direction is the positive direction with valuesof 0 to 360. Here, 0 and 360 represent the same color (red). Thesaturation is expressed by a distance from the central axis 101 and hasvalues of 0 to 1. The value is expressed by a distance from a bottomsurface 104 and has values of 0 to 1.

The position specifying unit 20 specifies the point P2 according to thepressure position and the pressure force based on the followingequations (1) to (4). An example of the point P2 is illustrated in FIG.11.[Math 2]FOR θ₁≥90h1=θ₁−90  (1)FOR θ₁<90h1=270+θ₁+θ₁  (2)s1=1−P/P _(max)  (3)v1=1−y/y _(max)  (4)

In equations (1) to (4), h1, s1, and v1 indicate the hue, thesaturation, and the value of the point P2, respectively. P_(max) is themaximum value of the pressure force and is set in advance. The positionspecifying unit 20 generates position information regarding thespecified point P2 in the color space and outputs the positioninformation to the control unit 30. The user can also press a region ofa certain range instead of the pressing of the point P1. In this case,the position specifying unit 20 performs the above-described process oneach point in the region to specify the region pressed by the user,i.e., the region corresponding to the pressure region in the colorspace. Accordingly, the user can designate a position (a point or aregion) in the color space.

The control unit 30 causes the display unit 40 to display a plane whichpasses through the central point C1 of the color space 100 and in whicha display direction vector (a vector indicating a direction in which thedisplay unit 40 displays an image) A1 of the display unit 40 is a normalline. For example, the control unit 30 performs the following processwhen a display direction is the horizontal direction. That is, asillustrated in FIG. 11, the control unit 30 calculates an angle θ₂ fromthe reference surface 102 to the display direction vector A1. The angleθ₂ is an angle in which the clockwise rotation direction is the positivedirection with values of 0 to 360. The control unit 30 causes thedisplay unit 40 to display a plane 103 in which a hue h2 expressed bythe following equations (5) and (6) is drawn. That is, the control unit30 performs light emission control or the like of the 2-dimensionallight-emitting element array 1101 so that the user can view the plane103. A form in which the plane 103 is displayed on the display unit 40is illustrated in FIG. 12.[Math 3]FOR θ₂≥90h2=θ₂−90  (5)FOR θ₂<90h2=270+θ₂  (6)

As illustrated in FIG. 13, the control unit 30 may cause the displayunit 40 to display the plane 103 by inclining the plane 103 by an angleθ₄ about the central point C1 when the display direction is inclined inthe horizontal direction by the angle θ₄. In this case, a hue of h2±90is drawn on the plane 103. A plane 105 is a plane in which a hue ofh2±90 is drawn.

In this way, the control unit 30 causes the display unit 40 to displaydifferent planes 103 according to the display direction of the displayunit 40. When the user views the plane 103, the display direction vectorA1 and a line-of-sight vector A2 of the user are parallel to each other.Accordingly, the control unit 30 causes the display unit 40 to display aplane in which the line of sight of the user is a normal line.Accordingly, the user can view various planes 103 by displacing theline-of-sight direction to any direction and can easily find a desiredcolor from the color space.

When the position information in the color space is given, the controlunit 30 draws an icon B at a position indicated by the positioninformation in the color space, as illustrated in FIG. 14. According toequations (1) to (6), the icon B is drawn on the plane 103 when theangle θ₂ of the display direction vector and the angle θ₁ of thepressure position are identical to each other. In FIG. 14, the icon B isdrawn on the plane 103. Accordingly, the user can view the display unit40 at a position away from the reference surface 10 b as much as theangle θ₁ and can view the icon B when performing a pressure manipulationat this position, as illustrated in FIG. 15. Conversely, when the icon Bis not visible to the user, the user can find the icon B by displacingthe line-of-sight direction or the pressure position.

<1-2. Order of Processes Performed by Information Processing Device>

Next, an order of the processes performed by the information processingdevice 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 16.In step S10, the control unit 30 first causes the display unit 40 todisplay the different planes 103 according to the display direction ofthe display unit 40. Accordingly, the user can view the various planes103 by displacing the line-of-sight direction in any direction and caneasily find a desired color from the color space.

When the user finds the desired color, the user designates the color.Specifically, the user performs a pressure manipulation at the sameposition as the position at which the user views the plane 103. That is,the user performs the pressure manipulation so that the angle θ₁ of thepressure position and the angle θ₂ of the line-of-sight vector A2 (thatis, the display direction vector A1) are identical to each other. Thepressure sensor 10 detects the pressure position (θ₁, y) and thepressure force P and outputs the pressure manipulation information tothe position specifying unit 20.

In step S20, the position specifying unit 20 specifies the point P2 inthe color space according to the pressure position (θ₁, y) and thepressure force P based on the pressure manipulation information andequations (1) to (4) described above. The position specifying unit 20outputs the position information regarding the position of the point P2in the color space to the control unit 30.

In step S30, the control unit 30 draws the icon B at the positionindicated by the position information in the color space, as illustratedin FIG. 14. The user finds the icon B by properly adjusting theline-of-sight direction. Further, the user adjusts the pressure position(θ₁, y) and the pressure force P until the icon B overlaps the desiredcolor. Accordingly, the user can designate the desired color (theposition in the color space). Thereafter, the information processingdevice 1 ends the process.

When the control unit 30 receives an instruction to output colorinformation from the user, the control unit 30 may output the positionof the point P2, i.e., the color information regarding the hue, thesaturation, and the value, to an external device, e.g., a colorcollection device.

As described above, according to the first embodiment, the user can findthe point P1 corresponding to the desired color by viewing the pressuresensor 10 with the cylindrical shape in a circumferential direction.Then, the user can designate the desired color by pressing the point P1.Accordingly, the user can directly and intuitively designate theposition in the three-dimensional space.

The information processing device 1 can accurately detect the pressureposition by detecting the distance y and the angle θ₁ from the referencesurface 10 b to the pressure portion.

Since the information processing device 1 is installed in the hollowportion of the pressure sensor 10 and displays the region among theregions in the color spaces according to the line of sight of the user,the user can easily find the desired color.

Since the information processing device 1 displays the plane 103 whichpasses through the central point of the color space 100 and in which theline of sight of the user is the normal line, the user can easily findthe desired color.

Since the hue h2 according to the angle from the reference surface 102to the plane 103 is drawn on the plane 103, the user can easily find thedesired color.

2. Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described.An information processing device 200 according to the second embodimentis mainly different in that a line-of-sight detection unit 250 isincluded and the display unit 40 is a flexible display. Thus, the secondembodiment will be described focusing on the differences.

As illustrated in FIG. 17, the information processing device 200includes a pressure sensor 210, a position specifying unit 220, acontrol unit 230, a display unit 240, and a line-of-sight detection unit250. The display unit 240 is a flexible display and is wrapped aroundthe peripheral surface of a base substrate 300 with a columnar shape, asillustrated in FIG. 19. The pressure sensor 210 is the same as thepressure sensor 10 according to the first embodiment and is wrappedaround the peripheral surface of the display unit 240. The line-of-sightdetection unit 250 is a so-called 360-degree camera and is installed onthe upper side of the pressure sensor 210, as illustrated in FIG. 18.

The information processing device 200 according to the second embodimentschematically performs the following process. The pressure sensor 210performs the same process as that of the pressure sensor 10 to detect apressure position (θ₁, y) and a pressure force P. The positionspecifying unit 220 performs the same process as that of the firstembodiment to specify a position in a color space according to thepressure position (θ₁, y) and the pressure force P.

On the other hand, the line-of-sight detection unit 250 detects a lineof sight of a user and outputs line-of-sight direction informationregarding the detection result to the control unit 230. Based on theline-of-sight direction information, the control unit 230 causes thedisplay unit 240 to display a plane 103 which passes through the centralaxis 101 of the color space 100 and in which the line-of-sight directionof the user is a normal line. The specific processing content is thesame as that of the first embodiment. In the second embodiment, the sameadvantages as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove with reference to the accompanying drawings, whilst the presentinvention is not limited to the above examples, of course. A personskilled in the art may find various alterations and modifications withinthe scope of the appended claims, and it should be understood that theywill naturally come under the technical scope of the present invention.

For example, in the embodiments, the technology that enables a user todesignate a position in a color space has been disclosed, but atechnology related to the present disclosure may be used so that a usercan specify a position in another three-dimensional space, e.g., a humanbody.

An HSV space has been exemplified as the color space 100. However, inthe embodiments, the color space is also, of course, applicable to acolor space (for example, a La*a* space or an xyz space) having the samecyclic hue and 2 degrees of freedom (2 attribute values).

When a target position is determined for a color, the control unit 30may change the color or shape of an icon according to deviation betweena position designated by a user and a target position. For example, whenthe deviation between the position designated by the user and the targetposition is within a predetermined value, the control unit 30 maydisplay the icon in red. In other cases, the control unit 30 may displaythe icon in black. Further, the control unit 30 may enlarge the iconwhen the deviation from the target position is larger.

The control unit 30 may change a color to be displayed on the displayunit 40 according to the degree of color blindness of a user inconsideration of a universal design. For example, a color table or acolor conversion function according to the degree of color blindness maybe stored in the information processing device 1 and the control unit 30may cause the display unit 40 to display a color desired by the userbased on the color table or the color conversion function anddesignation from the user. The control unit 30 may switch and displaynormal colors and colors for color blindness according to elapse oftime. The control unit 30 may cause the display unit 40 to display acolor complementing a color defined by each color table or colorconversion function. Accordingly, a color blind user can view a coloraccording to the degree of color blindness of the user. A normal userwith no color blindness can understand which color a color blind usercan recognize.

The control unit 30 may cause the display unit 40 to display a color inconsideration of transparency a. The control unit 30 may change theresolution (the number of pixels displaying each piece of colorinformation in the color space) of the color space 100 according to thepressure force P. For example, the control unit 30 may decrease theresolution (that is, increase the number of pixels displaying one pieceof color information) as the pressure force P increases. Accordingly,the user can more easily designate the desired color. A pressuremanipulation of adjusting the resolution is performed separately fromthe designation of the color information.

When a plurality of colors are designated by a user, the control unit 30may cause the display unit 40 to display colors mixed from these colorsand may output the mixed colors to an external device. The control unit30 may erase a color other than a color designated by a user from thedisplay unit 40. When a user designates a color, the control unit 30 maychange the display position of the color based on a pressuremanipulation additionally performed by the user.

Additionally, the present technology may also be configured as below.

(1)

An information processing device including:

a pressure sensor configured to be capable of detecting a pressureposition which is a position of a pressure portion subjected to apressure manipulation by a user and a pressure force which is a pressureat a time of the pressure manipulation, and to have a cylindrical shape;and

a position specifying unit configured to specify a position in athree-dimensional space according to the pressure position and thepressure force.

(2)

The information processing device according to (1), wherein the pressuresensor detects, as the pressure position, an angle from a referencesurface including a central axis of the pressure sensor to the pressureportion and a position of the pressure portion in a direction of thecentral axis.

(3)

The information processing device according to (2), further including:

a display unit installed in a hollow portion of the pressure sensor andconfigured to display a region according to a line of sight of the useramong regions in the three-dimensional space.

(4)

The information processing device according to (3),

wherein the three-dimensional space has a columnar shape, and

wherein the display unit displays a plane which passes through a centralpoint of the three-dimensional space and in which the line of sight ofthe user is a normal line.

(5)

The information processing device according to (4), wherein thethree-dimensional space is a color space.

(6)

The information processing device according to (5), wherein a hueaccording to an angle from a reference surface in the color space to theplane is drawn on the plane.

(7)

An information processing method including:

specifying a position in a three-dimensional space according to apressure position and a pressure force based on information given from apressure sensor, the pressure sensor being capable of detecting thepressure position which is a position of a pressure portion subjected toa pressure manipulation by a user and the pressure force which is apressure at a time of the pressure manipulation, the pressure sensorhaving a cylindrical shape.

(8)

A program for causing a computer to realize:

a position specifying function of specifying a position in athree-dimensional space according to a pressure position and a pressureforce based on information given from a pressure sensor, the pressuresensor being capable of detecting the pressure position which is aposition of a pressure portion subjected to a pressure manipulation by auser and the pressure force which is a pressure at a time of thepressure manipulation, the pressure sensor having a cylindrical shape.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

-   1, 200 information processing device-   10, 210 pressure sensor-   20, 220 position specifying unit-   30, 230 control unit-   40, 240 display unit-   250 line-of-sight detection unit

The invention claimed is:
 1. An information processing device fordisplaying a stereoscopic color image comprising: a cylindrical-shapedpressure sensor operable by a user to cause a user-selected color to bedisplayed in a three-dimensional color space, the cylindrical-shapedpressure sensor having a first surface and a central axis intersectingthe first surface, the pressure sensor configured to detect a pressureposition and a pressure force exerted on the pressure sensor by theuser, the pressure position being the position on the pressure sensor atthe time the user exerts the pressure force, the pressure position beingat an angle from a reference surface and a distance from the firstsurface in a direction parallel to the central axis; a positionspecifying unit configured to specify a position in a three-dimensionalcolor space determined by the pressure position whereat the pressureforce is exerted on the pressure sensor and by the exerted pressureforce; and a color display unit for displaying the color image on aplane in the three-dimensional color space according to a line of sightof the user and for displaying in the image flail the color selected bythe user's operation of the pressure sensor.
 2. The informationprocessing device according to claim 1, wherein the display unit isinstalled in a hollow portion of the pressure sensor.
 3. The informationprocessing device according to claim 2, wherein the three-dimensionalspace has a columnar shape, and wherein the display unit displays aplane which passes through a central point of the three-dimensionalspace and in which the line of sight of the user is a normal line. 4.The information processing device according to claim 3, wherein a hueaccording to the angle from the reference surface in the color space tothe plane is drawn on the plane.
 5. An information processing method fordisplaying a stereoscopic color image comprising: selecting a color fordisplay in a three-dimensional color space by a user specifying aposition in flail the three-dimensional color space by the user exertinga pressure force at a pressure position on a cylindrical-shaped pressuresensor having a first surface and a central axis intersecting the firstsurface, the pressure position being the position on the pressure sensorat the time the user exerts the pressure force, the pressure positionbeing at an angle from a reference surface and a distance from the firstsurface in a direction parallel to the central axis of the pressuresensor; and displaying the color image on a plane in thethree-dimensional color space according to a line of sight of the userand for displaying in the image the color selected by the pressureposition and the pressure force exerted by the user on thecylindrical-shaped pressure sensor.
 6. A non-transient computer-readablemedium on which is recorded a program for causing a computer to realize:a color selecting function of selecting a color for display on athree-dimensional color space by a user specifying a position in thethree-dimensional color space by exerting a pressure force a pressureposition on a cylindrical-shaped pressure sensor having a first surfaceand a central axis intersecting the first surface, the pressure positionbeing the position on the pressure sensor at the time the user exertsthe pressure force, the pressure position being at an angle from areference surface and a distance from the first surface in a directionparallel to the central axis of the pressure sensor; and a displayfunction for displaying a color image on a plane in thethree-dimensional color space according to a line of sight of the userand for displaying in the image the color selected by the pressureposition and pressure force exerted by the user on thecylindrical-shaped pressure sensor.